Why Is Your Cat Losing Its Fur?

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Most cats have big, beautiful fur coats, so it can be worrisome as a pet owner to notice that your cat's mane is becoming less luxurious. If you're noticing that your cat's fur is thinning, or is noticeably patchy, there are a few potential common causes that could be to blame. Here are a few things to look out for and what you should do about all of them.

Fleas

Fleas are typically best known for their biting and irritations that they can cause in that regard, but they can actually cause cats to lose their fur, too.

Flea bites, by themselves, can be quite irritating to the skin, especially if they're occurring frequently. However, some cats also experience a condition called flea dermatitis, where they essentially have a mild allergic reaction to the bites and debris left behind by fleas. This can lead to hair falling out in these regions. To make matters worse, fleas like to hide out in warm, secluded areas, so if your cat's losing fur around their armpits, legs, or the back of the neck, fleas may be the culprit.

Stomach Problems

Another possibility is that your cat is having stomach problems, though this is fully dependent upon where the baldness is occurring. In simple terms, if your cat is losing fur around its rectum, it may be due to a stomach problem.

Usually, cats can use the litter box without any kind of problems around their back end. However, if your cat is having diarrhea regularly, it may be acidic enough to be irritating their skin and causing their fur in the area to fall out. Alternatively, stomach problems caused by parasites like tapeworms can also cause hair loss in the region.

Stress

Finally, if your cat is losing fur all over, it may be due to stress. This can sometimes be identified if you watch your cat grooming itself. When a cat grooms excessively due to stress or anxiety, it can lead to their fur coming out. This generally causes fur thinning all over the body, but some cats will stress out and pull hair in specific areas, so keep an eye on what your cat is doing.

If you think your cat is having any of these problems, or if the fur loss continues, get to a vet right away. Fleas, stomach problems, and stress can all have long-term health consequences for cats. Consider their fur loss to be an early warning sign and get them the help that they need before a serious problem develops.

Contact veterinary services for more information. 

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